The appeal of spirituality

• “Religion” and the private sphere• Secular institutions and freedom “not to

believe”• Considerable interest in mysticism and

spirituality

Taking these phenomena seriously

• Too often dismissed as – Religion “lite”– Irrational and trivial

• Why take it seriously?– Significant culturally and economically– Like fundamentalism, a challenge to prediction of

“rationalization”

Transcendence

• Experiences and pursuits that stress– Personal achievement, betterment– “Communitas”

– Raves, festivals, “pilgrimages”– Others?

“New Age”

• Umbrella term for wide range of practices and beliefs with overt spiritual content– Wicca, channeling, alternative medicine, UFO

religions, women-centered spirituality

• Unifying themes (in addition to transcendence of self)– Immanent power – Utilitarian– Individualistic– Magic and mysticism– Distrust of organized religion– Well adapted to the commercial sector

Why so imprecise?

• Key is the tenacity of “spirituality” oriented practices

• Also seeing roots of the philosophies of body and spirit in long standing cultural tradition– Enlightenment/knowledge and revelation part of

Christian tradition though often subdued

Followers of New Age

• Largely made up of middle class– Mostly Caucasian– Adepts – ie mediums, ritual specialists – may be

more socially marginal– More emphasis on female practice, leadership

than in other religious domains

Roots of New Age

• Beginnings in 19th c spiritualism• Folklore revival of same period• 1960s counterculture– “rediscovery” of Asia

• Women’s movement• Environmental activism,

alternative medicine movements

Rationalism and New Age

• Seems very “irrational” to critics– Alternative medical therapies– Communication with spirits– Incorporation of elements of

Asian religions (e.g. reincarnation, meditation)

And yet…

• Generally well-educated clientele– No lack of exposure to science and logic

• Use of “scientific” language– Early spiritualist thought in close communication

with scientific/mathematical discoveries

Explanations of New Age…

• “Anomie”..???• Working out of existing trends in American

society• Access to power/effectiveness

Everyday “spirituality”

• Not all “religious” behavior captured in formal practice

• “The problem with religion is not in defining it, but in finding it..” (Geertz)